CREDIT: XANDERJOHNSCOTT.BANDCAMP.COM
Xander John Scott is a local musician who just released a new EP.

This March has been busy for one Music Industry Arts graduate of 2012.

Thunder Bay native Alex Maclean is a musician who performs under the name Xander John Scott. He juggles full-time studies at Western University studying computer science. He practices, produces and records his music, and recently released an EP titled Ready to Ignite.

On April 4, Maclean will also be opening for Patrick Dorie at the Cedar Lounge at The London Music Club. He will be joining Alex Mason; doors opening at 8 p.m. His new EP is available at xanderjohnscott.bandcamp.com.

While working on his album at Diningroom Studios in Thunder Bay, he described the process as coming together fluidly from a summer of playing with a whole band.

“They were written more collaboratively than previous songs of mine because I have been playing with these guys and they were all really great musicians (in my band). They had a lot of input to contribute while we were practicing. I was really happy to have them — I think the songs turned out well because of that … it wasn't just me. It's a three-song EP; one of the songs I wrote a while ago and two more, came from the summer.”

Colin Craig joined him on drums, Alex Greig on guitar and Dave Ramsay on bass. Scratch tracks were done in the booth which are rough tracks that have no solid sound yet.

“[Scratch tracks] are just temporary, so we can play along with something. So I was in the booth with my guitar is just plugged straight in the console. But the important part was to get those scratch tracks down that day, which we did. They sounded great. And after that day, I took them back to London with me because I had to go back to school.”

MacLean operates a majority of his recording in his own studio in his apartment. With a mixer, his computer and Pro Tools, a lot can be accomplished if you invest in the right gear — especially with software that makes the process easier.

As the school year hecticly comes to an end, take a break on April 4 at the London Music Club — it's going to be a great show. Check out MacLean's Ready To Ignite — downloads are available by donation.

Check out Xander John Scott on social media: facebook.com/XanderJohnScott, soundcloud.com/xanderjohnscott and twitter.com/XanderJohnScott.